Garden Route fires burn over 86 000 hectares of land in ten days

It all started ten days ago when a fire engulfed the southern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain range near George.

The Garden Route fires which began almost ten days ago have already burnt over 86 000 hectares of land.

The Garden Route District Municipality has noted that the damage, in terms of area affected by the recent blaze, has left a scar four times the size of the destructive 2017 Garden Route fires, which burnt an area of 22 000 hectares.

Worryingly, the fires have multiplied and spread, displacing hundreds of Garden Route residents, forcing road closures, and claiming the lives of nine locals. Sporadic showers and favourable shifts in wind direction have provided menial relief to the embattled area.

Garden Route fires began in George ten days ago

Ten days ago, a fire engulfed the southern slopes of the Outeniqua Mountain range near George. The mountain pass which connects Oudtshoorn to the coast, was closed and residents of George, particularly those inhabiting the northern areas on the outskirts of town, were forced to evacuate their homes.

Unfortunately, the George blaze, which has been largely brought under control, was just the beginning of what was to become the biggest wildfire disaster to hit the greater Garden Route district.

It was here that the fire turned deadly, claiming the lives of two adults and six children in the surrounding logging communities of Bosdorp and Farleigh.

According to the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), which is in charge of monitoring the Garden Route fires, while hotspots still dot the gutted countryside around Karatara, the blaze has subsided and evacuated residents have begun to return home.

Garden Route fires burn over 86 000 hectares of land

While the fires which originated in George spread to Karatara, in recent days unconnected flare-ups have been reported as far south as Heidelberg. Fires further east, near Stormsriver mouth, are currently being battled by firefighters.

The area 50 kilometres inland from Knysna has been worst affected by the recent flare-ups. Fires in Buffelsnek and De Vlugt, areas which are carpeted by vast pine plantations, have decimated the landscape.

Logging communities have been evacuated and structures have been destroyed. The Garden Route District Municipality has reported that the massive blaze affecting this area is moving further south; saying:

“Prince Alfred pass between Uniondale and Knysna has been closed as a precautionary measure. 150 people from the Diepwalle community are currently being evacuated to the Hornlee Hall by SANParks.

The Buffelsnek wildfire is on its way to Kranscbosch. A backburn has been created to stop the wildfire from spreading into other parts of the area.”

The Garden Route District Municipality JOC has confirmed that there are currently six major wildfires raging in the area. The municipality has added that more resources have been brought into the area to assist with the mammoth firefighting operation, saying:

“Five additional Working on Fire (WoF) helicopters are on their way to assist. The SANDF Oryx has also joined aerial resources this afternoon. A hundred additional WoF firefighters are on their way to the district.”